So, how old should you be before you start playing paintball?

Alright, I'm specifically asking you "youngin's" how old do you think a kid should be before he (or she) starts playing?

I ask because I'm too old to be objective anymore. I've been playing since early high school in the early 90's. As a teenager, I had no problems with getting hit, or dealing with the chaos of paint flying everywhere and the like.

But now, I'm older, and have my start for my 3-man team. My kids are 6 and 4, and both wanna play. Neither one is realy to hit a target, carry a gun safely, be sure to keep a mask on for safety, or deal with the pain of getting shot. But at the same time, I want them to be able to join me at it some day.

So they are not ready yet, but what is a general age you guys think is a good time to take a kid to his first game?

Seems to me he'd need 3 requirements:

1. Old enough to follow the rules and keep a mask on.
2. Old enough to be left alone in the staging area if he gets shot out first.
3. Old enough to handle getting shot with a paintball and not cry all day long.

Yeah, I'm 12 (13 in a week) and I play regular and just fine. But, I went the first time when I was 8 and I think that might have been a little young. I would say maybe 10-12 years to play and be fine.

I started in 3rd grade. Very young, but I was smart enough to pay attention when they talked about safety. I always wore my mask and never took it off on the field, and I always put the safety on and barrel bag on before I exited.